PSYCHOSOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF VOTERS ON INTENTION TO VOTE IN PAKISTAN’S 2018 GENERAL ELECTION

Mujeeba Ashraf; Asmah Gull

Mujeeba Ashraf Institute of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore
Asmah Gull Institute of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8538-0978

Keywords: Voting Intention, Demographic Determinants, Candidate Characteristics, Voter, Political Candidate, Voting in Pakistan

Abstract

The study focused on studying factors that influence who voters would vote for in Pakistan’s 2018 General Election. It was examined whether personal characteristics of candidate matter for the voters or not, and it was also hypothesized there was a difference in choosing candidate’s personal characteristics among the gender, education and voting state (voter & elector) of the voters. The research-based on between-group research design on a sample of 250 Pakistani voters and electors, and Urdu adapted version of voting behavior scale was used. Results based on the chi-square and binary logistic regression indicated participants intended to vote to candidates who would show humanity, have sound educational background and vision for country development, and can fight for corruption but they did not give importance to the sex of the candidate. The gender differences were observed as women were more intended to vote on basis of ethnicity in comparison to men. The study helps to understand psychological and social factors that may affect voters voting decisions.